Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Larry Korb on how Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that he is ready for another Cuban Missile-style crisis if the U.S. wanted one. FOX Business Network (FBN) is a financial news channel delivering real-time information across all platforms that impact both Main Street and Wall Street.

While another victory for Vladimir Putin in next month's Russian presidential election seems as inevitable as Manchester City lifting the Premier League trophy in May, there are seven other candidates vying for votes to prevent the 65-year-old from becoming the country's longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin.

Mr Putin enjoys an approval rating of 80% and is expected to secure a fourth term with ease, having served two four-year terms between 2000 and 2008 and then reclaiming the top job in 2012 after a stint as prime minister - and he only took that role due to legal limits over consecutive presidential terms.

So who would be brave enough to go up against him in the race to the Kremlin? Who could believe they stand a chance of a shock victory on 18 March? Sky News takes a look at the contenders who think they have what it takes.

Image:Does anyone stand a chance against Putin in the race to the Kremlin?

Sergei Baburin

The 2018 presidential election marks a return to politics for Mr Baburin, 59, who took a break from public life after failing to make it into parliament in 2007.

His return comes almost three decades after he last played a prominent role in Russian politics - he opposed the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 and led a parliamentary rebellion against then-president Boris Yeltsin in 1993.

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After that the legal expert spent several stints in parliament before he left in 2007, after which he went on to become the head of a university in Moscow.

He was nominated for the 2018 race by fringe nationalist party the Russian All-People's Union.

Image:Sergei Baburin has returned to politics after a lengthy absence. Pic: Vitebsk Popular News

Maxim Suraikin

Trained engineer Mr Suraikin has been nominated by the Communists of Russia party, which casts itself as a viable alternative to the main Communist Party.

Mr Suraikin does not have much political experience, having endured an unsuccessful campaign to become governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region in 2014. He received just 2% of the vote.

The 39-year-old has had some luck running a small computer business, though.

Image:Maxim Suraikin - billed as an alternative to the main Communist Party

Vladimir Zhirinovsky

Mr Zhirinovsky, nominated by the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, is running against Mr Putin despite steadfastly supporting him and his party in parliament over the years.

He is a controversial figure thanks to a series of xenophobic statements, allegations that he incites political violence, and apparent animal cruelty.

During the 2012 presidential election, in which he won 6% of the vote, the 71-year-old released a short video online in which he rode a sleigh harnessed by a donkey, which he whipped aggressively to have it pull him through the snow.

"This little wretched donkey is the symbol of Russia," he said in the clip, which angered animal rights group PETA.

Image:Vladimir Zhirinovsky is the oldest candidate in the race

Boris Titov

This election marks the first time 57-year-old Mr Titov has run for president, having been nominated by the pro-business conservative Party of Growth.

He is a strong advocate for businesses, having enjoyed a successful career dealing in chemicals and fertilisers, and he has campaigned on creating a more favourable environment for firms across the country.

It has been predicted that he will only garner around 1.5% of the vote.

Image:Boris Titov is a successful businessman

Ksenia Sobchak

Ms Sobchak is the only woman running in the presidential election and is well known in Russia as a celebrated TV host.

The 36-year-old - named as the 10th highest paid celebrity in Russia by Forbes in 2017 - says she has grown tired of Mr Putin and his familiar challengers and is keen to see liberal changes in Russian politics.

She announced her candidacy as an independent in a YouTube video in October, but she was later named as the nomination for the People's Freedom Party.

Ms Sobchak has been tipped to do relatively well with voters and increase turnout, but analysts have predicted that she will likely help split the liberal vote and inadvertently make Mr Putin's victory look all the more comprehensive.

Image:Ksenia Sobchak wants to see liberal changes. But what chance could a TV personality have in a presidential election...?

Pavel Grudinin

Mr Grudinin is the candidate of the Communist Party, despite being a wealthy business owner who is openly proud of his riches.

The 57-year-old is a millionaire, having amassed his wealth by serving as the director of a successful strawberry farm, and until 2010 was a member of United Russia - the main Kremlin party.

But he has been openly critical of Russia's current political and economic system, although he has avoided publicly criticising Mr Putin.

His surprise nomination has been seen as an attempt by the Communist Party to broaden its appeal beyond old voters harbouring nostalgia for the Soviet Union.

Image:Wealthy business owner Pavel Grudinin is running for the Communist Party

Grigory Yavlinsky

Mr Yavlinsky has run against Mr Putin before, back in 2000, when he garnered around 6% of the vote.

Since then he has denounced the Kremlin's policies and regularly criticised the president, calling for more political freedoms for the country's people and a more liberal economy.

He considers himself an economic expert and is popular among middle-aged and elderly liberal voters in big Russian cities, but overall his support base is small.

In 2012, his application to run for president was rejected because he did not garner enough signatures. He is running for the party he founded, Yabloko.

Image:Grigory Yavlinsky has run against Mr Putin before

Wait... where's Alexei Navalny?

He may be the most renowned and vocal critic of Mr Putin, but Mr Navalny is not going up against him in the election because he has been barred from running.

Russia's central election commission said he could not run because of a suspended prison sentence for fraud, but thousands still turned out to endorse him for the presidency during demonstrations across the country in December.

The Munsters' Beverley Owen, who originated the role of Marilyn, dies age 81 from ovarian cancer

The Munsters actress Beverley Owen died, age 81, following a two-year battle with ovarian cancer.

Owen (born Ogg) passed away peacefully last Thursday while surrounded by friends and family at her home in Vermont, according to TMZ.

Beverley originated the role of Marilyn Munster - the 'ugly' teenage niece of Frankenstein and a female vampire with a werewolf for a cousin - in the first season of the CBS sitcom.

Rest in peace: The Munsters actress Beverley Owen died, age 81, last Thursday at her Vermont home following a two-year battle with ovarian cancer

'Beautiful Beverly Owen has left us,' Butch Patrick - who played Eddie Munster - wrote on Facebook Sunday.

'What a sweet soul. I had the biggest crush on her. RIP Bev and thanks for your 13 memorable Marilyn Munster episodes.'

The Iowa-born blonde quit The Munsters to wed Sesame Street director Jon Stone, with whom she had daughters Polly and Kate, and Pat Priest took over the role of Marilyn.

The outcast: Beverley originated the role of Marilyn Munster - the 'ugly' teenage niece of Frankenstein and a female vampire with a werewolf for a cousin - in the CBS sitcom

Butch Patrick - who played Eddie Munster - wrote on Facebook Sunday: 'Beautiful Beverly Owen has left us. What a sweet soul. I had the biggest crush on her. RIP Bev and thanks for your 13 memorable Marilyn Munster episodes'

Replaced: Owen quit The Munsters to wed Sesame Street director Jon Stone, with whom she had daughters Polly and Kate, and Pat Priest (pictured) took over the role of Marilyn

Also earned a master's degree: The Iowa-born blonde also acted in the 1964 western Bullet for a Badman, NBC soap opera Another World, CBS soap opera As the World Turns, and NBC's The Virginian (pictured with her Munster castmates in 1987)

Owen divorced Stone in 1974 after a decade of marriage and she reportedly went on to earn her master's degree in early American history in 1989.

Beverley also acted in the 1964 western Bullet for a Badman, NBC soap opera Another World, CBS soap opera As the World Turns, and NBC's The Virginian.

Fans can catch Patrick and Priest in person at the Texas Pinball Festival happening March 22-24 at the Frisco Convention Center.

Convention alert! Fans can catch Patrick and Priest in person at the Texas Pinball Festival happening March 22-24 in Frisco

Roger Federer is getting ready to bid for his eighth Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title this week. He told Tournament Director, Salah Talak that eight is his lucky number when they met at The Lounge - in the Burj Kahlifa - the tallest lounge in the world with panoramic views of Dubai.

ROGER FEDERER dropped the second set to Philipp Kohlschreiber but regained his composure to beat the German 6-4 3-6 6-1 in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

In his first match since losing at the Australian Open, Federer made the perfect start by breaking Kohlschreiber's serve at the start and he held on to take the set 6-4.

But Kohlschreiber hit back at the beginning of the second set by breaking Federer early on and after trading breaks then held on to his serve in a nine-minute game and the 35-year-old took the set 6-3.

Then in the deciding set, Federer lifted his level, racing away from his opponent with two breaks of serve to win in one hour and 35 minutes.

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard described to Ellen the very "sweet bromance" Dax has going on with Bradley Cooper. Plus, the couple talked about the hilarious and painful Choco Challenge they did to support prostate cancer research. #KristenBell #DaxShepard #BradleyCooper

Michigan natives and Hollywood power couple Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard were on the "Today" show this morning to talk about their new business, but ended up talking about much more.

Married since 2013, how do they make it work? The pair joked it helps to not see one another.

"Well we spend 11 months of the year apart," Shepard said. "I haven't seen her since July 4."

"July 3," Bell cut in. "The night of July 3."

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard being adorable, as they are. (Photo11: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

They finish each others sentences. Adorbs.

They talked about how they met. At a Red Wings, L.A. Kings hockey game. Adorbs.

Bell, originally from Huntington Woods, can be seen in "The Good Place" on NBC and on its third season. Shepard, from Milford, will soon be seen in ABC's "Bless This Mess" with actress Lake Bell.

The couple is #relationshipgoals.

"For me it's very important that we lead honestly and say it's a lot of hard work and here's an example of how it can be done," Bell said.

"It makes me nervous because I don't want to perpetuate the myth that you are going to bump into somebody at the Gap and that person is going to fill your missing piece and there is no work and now it's off to a happily ever after," Shepard said. "I just want everyone to know, like, this was a lot of work to get to this point."

Business partners

Going beyond life partners, the adorable duo recently decided to go into business together, launching a line of products for Walmart named Hello Bello.

"We've now been researching children for 5½ years at our house," Shepard joked.

"We have two test subjects," Bell added referring to their two daughters.

"And my wife is meticulous of about what goes on our baby and what goes in our babies," Shepard said.

"Near our babies," Bell quipped.

"We had access to everything under the sun and we felt like it wasn't fair that our relatives in Michigan didn't have the same access and it wasn't affordable," Shepard said.

The couple approached Walmart to create the organic products so it would be affordable and available nationwide.

"A lot of people and I mean a lot of people in this country have to choose between what's good for for their baby or what's good for their budget. And we just generally didn't think that was very fair," Bell said.

NHL RUMORS: PATRICK LAINE, MARK STONE

Twitter: Brian Lawton has stated that it is a possibility that the Winnipeg Jets are shopping Patrick Laine.

Like the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Winnipeg Jets are in a cap crunch and they might not be able to sign Laine if they want to re-sign other players on the team.

Lawton states, “hearing some really big names floating around out there today. A number of clubs have called the Winnipeg Jets about the moonshot of is Patrick Laine a guy they would consider moving? Believed the phone was not hung up………… ”

WILL MARK STONE BE TRADED OR RE-SIGN WITH THE OTTAWA SENATORS?

Though teams have grumbled about the high asking price from Dorion, league sources told the Ottawa Sun there’s likely as many as eight contenders are making a serious pitch for a guy who can help a contender at both ends of the ice.

The Winnipeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins are among the teams that are believed to have made a strong push for Stone. The Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators are also believed to have held talks, but may not want to give up what the Senators are demanding in return.

Though the Jets have been the most aggressive team in pursuit of Stone, it’s believed the Knights have made a late push. There has been talk they don’t want to give up everything Ottawa wants in return but he’s a big piece and could be a difference-maker down the stretch for any contender.

In a new lawsuit, Alva Johnson alleges that Donald Trump kissed her against her will in 2016, an allegation the White House denies. Subscribe to The Washington Post on YouTube: https://wapo.st/2QOdcqK Follow us: Twitter: https://twitter.com/washingtonpost Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/washingtonpost/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/washingtonpost/

She is the eldest daughter of Kris and Caitlyn Jenner. And Kendall Jenner enjoyed a sweet reunion with her father on the red carpet at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday evening. ....................................................................... Welcome to Light channel.

Only the Kardashians would have a family reunion at Hollywood’s most glamorous night.

Each were dressed to the nines for the occasion. Caitlyn, 69, wore a short gold sequin dress with flowing sleeves. She paired the look white pumps, and kept her brown locks down.

Daughter Kendall, 23, also wore her hair down in flowing beach curls — and like her dad, showed some leg in a sequin number. Her outfit featured a high-cut leotard with fringe details on her hips, and long panels of sequin fabric covering her front and rear. The gown’s top was backless, and featured a cutout detail that highlighted Kendall’s fit frame. She added long matching earrings top it off, and black strappy sandals.

Joining Caitlyn at the event was pal Sophia Hutchins, who wore a sheer black long-sleeve mermaid-cut gown over a fitted lace black bodysuit. The 22-year-old kept her long blonde hair off her face in a ponytail.

Earlier in the evening, Caitlyn and Hutchins watched the 91st annual Academy Awards at the 27th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party (sponsored by IMDb and Neuro Drinks) in West Hollywood, where they posed together on the red carpet and were photographed inside sitting next to each other.

All that seems to be in the past now. During a January appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the Kardashian sisters revealed that they’ve patched things up with Caitlyn — and even spent the holidays with her.

“Yeah, we saw her on Christmas Eve,” Kim said. Kourtney added, “I saw her on Christmas.”

“It’s like, new year, drama free. That’s like our motto this year,” said Kim, with Khloé noting, “Let go and let’s just be in love.”

Back in December, Caitlyn appeared on WE tv’s Real Love: Relationship Reality TV’s Past, Present & Future panel in Los Angeles, where she said she was proud of all of her kids — and that her relationship “is still good with all of them.”

“It’s kind of amazing to me,” she said, reflecting on the family’s long-running E! show, of which she’s no longer a part. “Take Kimberly. She has been doing this show for like, 12 or 13 years now and has stayed relevant for that entire time. Thirteen years of staying relevant. … That’s amazing to me that she has stayed relevant.”

“Kimberly has been out there and she’s extremely smart — all my kids [are],” Caitlyn continued. “I have 10 kids and 14 grandchildren. All my kids have done so extremely well. The ones you don’t even see on camera are very successful. I’m so proud of my family. … They are very entrepreneurial. All of them. They’ve done very well for themselves. They’ve used their celebrity status and the show to build businesses to be out there in the marketplace.”